DAVAO CITY – As earthquakes continue to rock many parts of Central Mindanao, class and work suspensions have expanded to several municipalities and provinces outside of Sultan Kudarat province, which has experienced a swarm of 2,264 earthquakes as of 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices in the coastal towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang following a magnitude-5.7 tremor, and later expanded the suspension to the entire province after a magnitude-5.9 earthquake. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said both earthquakes were tectonic in origin. Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Eugene Garcia ordered the preemptive evacuation of all residents in 10 coastal barangays, citing the possible occurrence of a tsunami. Neighboring provinces, including Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Sur, also cancelled classes due to possible tsunami, with thousands of residents evacuating to higher grounds. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has not issued a tsunami advisory, but reminded the public to be mindful of damages to structures and natural signs of a local tsunami. As of 7 a.m. Thursday, 2,264 earthquakes were recorded off Kalamansig since Jan. 19, with 677 plotted by monitoring stations and 84 felt, and magnitude ranges from 1.3 to 5.9. Class and work suspensions have been implemented in several areas, including Koronadal City and municipalities in South Cotabato, as a precautionary measure against possible hazards. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 has activated its quick response teams, mobilizing personnel and resources to ensure the delivery of assistance to affected communities, with over 50,000 individuals affected in the towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang.
